The Ringer NFL Show - Lombardi's Week 7 Reactions | GM Street (Ep. 329)

Episode Date: October 23, 2018

The Ringer's Michael Lombardi and Tate Frazier discuss Week 7’s biggest games and narratives before giving out their weekly awards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Visit your local Verizon store today or learn more at p.0.st. slash the ringer. Again, that's p.0.st. slash the ringer. This episode is also brought to you by an all-new season of the Showtime original series, Ray Donovan, starring Leaf Shriver John Boyt and Susan Sarandon. LA's favorite fixer has left Hollywood behind, but is still putting his unique set of skills to work for the powerful and corrupt in New York City. That's exciting. I love this show. A political maneuvering, dirty cops, and family turmoil threatened to drag him down, but Ray always finds a way to get what he needs for himself and

clients. Don't miss the premiere of Ray Donovan Sunday, October 28th at 9 o'clock only on showtime. And now, GM Street. Welcome to GM Street part of the Weir Podcast Network. It is Tuesday. It is October 23rd. And I am joined by Mr. Michael Lombardi. Lombardi, how you doing? Week 7, the G-Men go down. There is turmoil in New York. The Big Blue Nation is going crazy. People are pointing fingers all over the place. And Monday night football was quite a joy for us last night. But first off, how are you? Great tape, Frasier. I don't understand the Giants fans and difference.

I mean, their belief that this team was good. I mean, the reality of it is is, you know, their quarterbacks passed his prime. They drafted a run-inback, which historically shows that they don't win games. They're great players, but don't win games. Their defenses anywhere where it needs to be. Raiders, and I think it applies to the

job in the United States Army. They said, if you don't like change, you're going to like irrelevance, even less. I think the Giants are irrelevant. I think they refuse to change. You know, they hire men to lead the third. I've got a everybody in tech and John Merrick? I don't think many people were surprised, especially those that were trying to objectively observe

what this Giants team would be. They lose last night 23 to 20. They have now lost 20 of their last 24 games. I'd even take a second look at that as I was looking at it. 20 to last 24. Last night, the big story, though, was so they were down 14 points. They're in a weird spot right now, Giants fans. People are all over the place trying to see if this was a smart decision.

So they were down 14 points. Shermer decided to go for. two-point conversion at the time to cut the lead to six. We saw a couple weeks ago Doug Peterson did this. This all comes back to analytics, a little bit of game theory here. Basically, you increase your chances to win the game. You play the 50-50 game with the two-point conversion on the front and instead of playing the 50-50 game with overtime.

That's pretty much the angle on this. So people are saying that Shermer made a smart decision by doing this. It is based in analytics. And I just have to ask you, Lombardi. I mean, obviously people are getting upset and pointing fingers. and all that stuff that you expect to see when people lose. But was this a smart decision for Shermer? Is this a positive thing to see if you were a Giants fan?

And even if it doesn't work out if it was a right decision and it was in the right place, is that a good place to be? Or does it not matter because, again, you're 1 and 6 and one of the worst teams in football? Look, I don't think, you can't argue going for the two was a bad call. The number of support that it gives you a 91% chance of winning the game. Okay? And then even if you don't get it, you have an opportunity to get it again to tie the score.

So you're kind of in shape. I think the numbers support it. I didn't agree with what Mike Rable did because I think there was a stunning circumstance to that. We'll talk about that later in the podcast. But I don't have a problem with going for two. I think people are focused on the wrong thing. I think the problem is you got the ball first in 10 at your own 14 with 148 to go in the game

or I think 140 and change, right? That, you have to ball to 14. You have to throw the ball three times

in the end zone. You throw it three times in the end zone if the score touchdown great. If you don't, you've burned basically 15 seconds

off the clock. You cannot throw it in bounds. There's no, if you throw it in bounds, the guy's got to get out of balance. So it's got to be either side-line passes or in the end zone

incomplete or touchdown. You throw it three times. If you don't make it, you kick the field goal. Now you have about a minute 20 to go, you're on-site kick, it gives you enough time to come back down the field and score, perhaps a touchdown to tie the game. But what they did was they throw the six-yard check down.

They ball 30 seconds like Jason Garrett did in Washington, throwing a nine-yard pass and losing 34 seconds. To me, this is where the mismanagement, and this is where giant fans should raise their biggest concern. Not the two-point play. The two-point play has theory behind it in terms of analytics, in terms of win percentage. I get it.

I understand it. I don't get the mismanagement of the two-minute drill. That to me is criminal. And when you've got the ball in that position, just like the Cowboys had the ball in their game, Cowboys had the ball at the Redskins' 46-yard line with 52 seconds left to go. My man over there, the clapper,

he doesn't call offense, he doesn't call defense, he doesn't call special teams. He manages the game, and somehow he mismanages the game. You know he's smart. Somehow he mismanages the game to where they run three plays in, 52 seconds and they missed the field goal.

And it gets back to a situation we've talked about plenty of times on this podcast, which is those last two minutes, either in the second half and obviously at the end of the game, being smart and understanding a situation and understanding you don't want to give a guy like Matt Ryan and that Falcons team the football back to give them a chance to get momentum going into the half, even though some people don't necessarily believe in momentum. I've heard that before now plenty of times. But it does cause some sort of reservations if you're a Giants fan.

I want to talk about, not the two-point convergence, I want to talk about the QB sneaks, because I think that is sort of a calling card that you can see a problem with what was going on with decisions that were made internally. There was actually a nice shot. I'm sure the Bugmobile caught this, but there was a nice shot of Shermer

at one point in this game on fourth down where he goes, what? Why not throw to Odell from the sideline? So there was frustration back and forth. That fourth caption, now they didn't talk about on the ESPN, but that caption right there to me, was the essence of really what Pat Somer thinks of his team, of what he thinks of his quarterback.

I think, you know, you've seen it, you saw it in the Giants' Eagle game, and they cut away from the camera, he denied it. But not throwing that pass on the dash, where they had the perfect play called it, would have been a score, had Eli thrown it, was exactly what you say.

All the Eli defenders, they can all shut up. They can all just shut up, because he scored 20 points against the worst defense in football. I think the Alabama quarterback would, of scoring 20 points against the Atlanta's defense. Okay? Like, it's a joke.

Like, the guy, it's done. It's over. It's done. Just accept it. Accept it and move on. But we're having a hard time accepting a lot of things in the NFL, and the Giants won't. I feel for Pat Shermer because he's in a really tough spot. And then he goes and doubles down and mismanages that two-minute draw. I mean, here's Bill Parcells, whether he stayed awake for it or not. But Parcells is one of the curators of game management.

Brilliant at it, right? Those giant uniforms used to be good at game management. It's a disgrace. And we've seen it last night. So basically for people that didn't see, they were down 23 to 12. They're running the two-minute trail, 45 seconds left on the clock.

No timeouts at this point. Shermer even said before, he had a couple weeks ago where he wanted it. He had timeouts going into the half and he didn't want to be in that situation again. That did not play out well in this game, so they have no timeouts at this point, 45 seconds. They run a quarterback sneak.

Eli is stuffed. They're on the one yard line. The land is one. They get stuffed on first down. And now the clock's running. clock's ticking. Most people are probably expecting a pass O'Dell at this point. They double down and Shermer and Eli go forward again and try to get another QBSC sneak. Clock continues to tick down. And then he throws a touchdown, a beautiful

pass that OBJ catches. But at the end of the day, there's only five seconds remaining. They convert the two-point conversion with the second time. Seekwan runs in 23 to 20. Again, there's only five seconds left on the clock. So it comes down to clock management. Even Andy Reid was embarrassed by what was going on here with this giant team leading this game. I mean, at some point, when the ball's on the 14, you've got to practice that situation. You know, it's a situation in practice. I'm sure if they're really good head coaches in the NFL and they observed it, and if you're going through all the situations and you have a guy clipping them out like most good teams do,

you see this. Okay, it's first and 10, the balls at the 14. So this week in practice in your game management period, put the ball in the 14, no timeouts less, 140 to go in the game, first and 10 at the 14. You've got three calls to get the ball in the end zone. and you tell the coordinator, coordinate checkdowns here, can't throw the ball in bounds.

We've got to throw in the end zone or throw it outside. So whatever calls you make, they better be in there or else you're going to cost us the game and then go from there. You practice it. You just don't run it.

And they didn't do it. They didn't understand it. They got in this situation and you've got to kick the field goal. You need two scores. It's an on-side kick game. This is what drives to be crazy about the announcers on television.

At some point, fans need to know that most executives sitting in their seats are thinking, we want to make this an on-side kick game. That's all I thought out. How do we get enough points to making an on-site kick game? I mean, what I

saw in the same place is Sean Payton so far ahead of everybody else, it's comical. Sean Payton's got a 20 to 17 lead. He gets the ball back, makes some great plays. No, I'm sorry, he's got 2117 lead. They stop the Ravens. He, the first play out of the gate, he's trying to

score because he knows a four-point lead isn't good enough. He knows he needs to get three or seven. He drives it down and says he's trying to get seven point. He's not sitting on the clock. He's running his offense. That's what you have to do in football. And most people just won't do it. And one quick note on that game. So Sean Payton goes down. They get the field goal. They get a seven point lead. And you're thinking yourself, well, the Ravens have Justin Tucker. He has made 222 straight extra points. It's going to be fine.

Looks like it's going to be an overtime type situation. Misses the extra point early in the game. And then, you know, here we are. They lose the game. You know what I mean? It goes back to that situation again where, you know, Sean Peyton outwits the Ravens and something that it doesn't seem like based on what past performance and what you expect from Justin Tucker it happens he misses the extra point and the Saints come away with the win but that's how you have to approach the game like no lead safe you can't win you can't win with just your defense nobody's winning with their defense nobody's good enough on defense to win with it you got to help your

offense score to win with it and I think that's what happens and I think that's one game there you know when you sit there I think that I think Justin Tucker was going to miss it Hell no. And I think Drew Brees was going to lead him back for a field goal? Hell yeah. You know, I thought he would. I think the Saints' two minute defense needs a lot of work. They made the trade for Eli Apple today.

They needed another corner desperately. They're playing way more zone. They're playing way smarter and how they approach things. I think the Saints are a sleeping giant. I know they're one of the best teams in the league, but nobody's really talked about them. We're going to see them Sunday area up in Minnesota, which would be a great game. And you mentioned that trade.

We'll give you the details of that. So the New Orleans Saints, this just got reported. They made a trade a fourth-round pick. 2019 and a seventh round pick. This was being reported by Ian Rappaport in in 2020. So they trade for Eli Apple, a guy that played at Ohio State with Marshawn Lattimore, another guy they have on their team. So on that back end, they try to share it up. There was some rumors that they were trying to trade for Patrick Peterson. Steve Wilkes came out and said that Peterson is not on

the trade block, despite what he is leaking from his camp that he would like to be traded out of Arizona. So the Saints kind of, they reach for the stars with Peterson. Doesn't look at that was going to work out. So now they settle with Eli Apple and this could be a situation where Apple gets in a winning culture in a winning situation and they tap into that potential a little bit and we'll see what happens. If the Saints can sure up the back

end of that defense, then they really are a team to contend with. Even though like you said, they already are. They really do. And they put all their chips in the middle of the table. I mean, they go bones about it. I mean, Brees is on another year left on contract. I mean, the Saints are proactive. I mean, they trade for Teddy Bridgewater. Oh, by the way, didn't we say that

Jacksonville's a treat for Teddy Bridgewater? No, never mind. Never mind that. Anyway, but They put all their chips to the table, and I think that's smart. I think he sees his people. Look, those drafts, he couldn't recoup some of those picks later, trade down in the second round. I know it's like they don't live in it doing this, right? Davenport gives them a pass rusher.

I think that same team is set up pretty well because they've got the offense. That's the line. It's so good. The offense is the line knocks people off the ball. They can play physical. They can run the ball. He's a great play caller. I like the Saints.

I like the Moved. I'm not in love with Eat on Apple, but they needed somebody back there. Hopefully they can coach them up. And that was a win-now decision. So the Saints now don't have a first row next year because of the Davenport trade. They don't have a third round because of the Bridgewater trade that you mentioned. Now they don't have a fourth realm because of the Eli Apple trade. But again, they have Drew Brees.

They have Michael Thomas. They have Kamara. They have all these stars. And they have the mentality that they want to win now. You're talking about a team that wants to go over and play for the future. That is the Oakland Raiders. And the Oakland Raiders, they were in the news again because they made a pretty big trade. A blockbuster trade that we did not think was possible,

especially for the value. But they traded their top receiver, a guy that they had. drafted a few years ago, Amari Cooper to the Cowboys for a first-round pick. So they were able to get another first-round picks. So now they have three first-round picks. John Gruden said he was very excited about that. The quote that he had,

this is from Chris Mortensen. He said, I hate to see good players go. I was on the practice field when Reggie, McKenzie, the GM, came by and said the Cowboys would do it first. And I said, let's do it. We now have five number one picks in the next two years. So he's excited about that.

Obviously, if you're on a 10-year contract, you are playing for the future. I kind of want to work our way back here and talk about more about the value for what the Cowboys got. The Cowboys have traded for wide receivers with first-run picks before. The last two times I did that, it was Roy Williams, and the time before that, it was Joey Galloway. We've seen Percy Harvin get traded for a first-home pick. Remember, Randy Moss got traded for a first-home pick. Cooks is another guy.

The Rams traded a first-one pick for Cooks as well. The Patriots said as well also. But just looking at that and talking about the value of a first-run pick for Amari Cooper. I mean, was this a smart decision for the campaign? Cowboys, or was this like almost a panic decision after losing to Washington? You know, I don't, I don't, you know, people have a perception. I heard last night that both the guys thought Amari Cooper's a great player. I don't know if either one had watched Amari Cooper lately.

Lamarie Cooper's not a great player. You know, I said this on DM Street before. His love of the game is certainly in question. The Cowboys were really desperate. I think this wasn't a courageous move. I think it was a desperate move. But I think they're compounded. And if I were Jerry Jones, I would have said, if I was working for Jerry, I would have said,

Gary, I wouldn't make this trade. But if you're going to make this trade, see if you can get a lot of reprotected. See if you can convince the Raiders that if we're picking 15 or lower, you get the pick. If we're picking 14 or higher, you don't get the pick, I'll give you a two. Two from the Eagles, which is really essentially a third. And if he wouldn't do that, now that I gave away my want, then the next conversation I would have with Jerry Jones, I walk to the opposite. I would say, look, we've got to minimize our risk here.

So we better sign a quarterback, I'll play around it. And we're going to end up with a top five pick. We're not good enough on offense in with, but if he gets hurt, we're going to have a top five pick. So maybe we should trade for Sam Bradford. Maybe we should take on somebody else because Cooper Rush is going to be the answer. So what he should be doing right now is how can I maximize that I don't pick in the top 14? What do I need to do to do to get a backup quarterback? Because if Prescott gets hurt, he's picking high.

I don't like the deal. I think his hands are questionable. But now that it's done, I think they should try to work his way. through to try to minimize exactly at their risk. They won't, but they should. And Amari Cooper on the season, 22 reception, 280 receiving yards, and a touchdown. My question to you is

there was another guy that you've seen in New England who's become a part of the offense and sort of grown into it and that has the talent to be an elite receiver. We both understand that and know that. But Josh Gordon, the guy, you know, he's got 241 yards, two touchdowns this season, and the Patriots gave him a fifth round for him.

And there were talks that Dallas was in the market for Josh Gordon at the time. So it seems like they could have... It seems that there was other value. They could have given up less to maybe get a similar type player, but they waited it out, and now they had to give up a first rounder for Marry Cooper. There was no reports that the Colts officially were willing to give up first, but apparently that was the reason why the Cowboys went ahead and offered up in the

Colts. The Colts know they're not any good. The Colts know they're going to have a top 10 pick, top 12. The Colts aren't giving up a lottery pick for Amari Cooper. They're just not going to do it. they'll give up a two for a Mark Cooper, but they're going to give up one. They're not going to give up that pick.

And so it's really, the NBA's taught us that you've got to protect your picks. And so if you don't do it, you're stupid. And the fact is the Cowboys have been on this search for a number one receiver. And so they toss that term around number one receiver, like they grow on streets.

Like they're, you know, they're, you know, in Ocean City, Betty's Brady makes 5,000 loads today. Like, there's that many number one receivers. You just got out of Benny's to get number one receiver, right? So good luck, okay? There aren't. Amari Cooper's not a number one receiver.

He's not even a number one receiver. So the reality of it is, is they still looking for a number one receiver? Is he better than anyone they have? Yeah, they got fortunate that Sammy Watkinson take the deal because you know what? Hey, Prasian? Sammy Warkis is one receiver either.

So I just think to me the Cowboys are, you know, convincing them that this is they got to go. They're not a good thing. And, you know, they messed up, they think they're in nine and they could be eight and eight, nine and seven. Maybe that keeps them out of the lottery. I'm sure it does.

But if they're six and ten, whoa, watch out, bro. Yeah, we're going to be in a tough situation. And you mentioned the Clapper. Someone, a fan, I can't remember at the top of my head right now, but someone reached out to us and said that we should call Shermer, the Clocker.

I thought that's pretty good. The Clapper and the Clocker. We'll keep working on all these new games in the NFCs. I mean, you know what? I'm not hard on Pat Shermer because I think what fans don't really understand is the plate that he's under. You know, he's dealing with an 18 quarterback,

dealing with an organization that doesn't realize they're 4-20 over the last 24 games. They're dealing with an organization that's won 32 games over the last. They've had one winning record over the last five years. Like, I don't think, I think he's in a really hard spot. I think it's really unfair to him.

That's why I've kind of had a nickname to him because I think it's, I feel for the guy. I think he's in an impossible situation. But those really, the front office there is unrealistic. They have, they really are out of touch with reality. And it should be noted that as far as play calling, I think Shermer's calling a game that maybe is not catered to Eli Manning because he's coaching and calling a game how he wants to call it.

I mean, him calling two QB Sneaks down there. Ben McAdoove never called a QB sneak for Eli Manning. Coughlin, that was not his thing either. So he was calling, he's calling his own game on what he knows on football, but it's not necessarily calling an Eli Manning game. So you can't really judge him on that because he's just trying to call it like he says. I mean, all the people would say that. Unless you throw out of checkdowns, what's what about there?

Yeah, okay, good. Good luck. Okay, that was the worst defense of football. Let's talk about a guy that's under a lot of pressure and a lot of scrutiny. And you talked about the pressure of being a head coach. And we saw even in a press conference this week, Bill O'Brien came out and said, it is hard to win in the NFL. That is something we both know here on GM Street.

A guy that likes to remind us that he is the head coach and that he would like to win football games, is Huey headlines. And Hugh Jackson is back on it this week after another overtime game. This is the fourth time they've been in overtime loss. overtime loss where it seemed like they had a real chance to win this game. A punt in almost plus territory. They could turn things around, but

James Winston and the Buccaneers go down and get their first win. The interesting thing about this game in Tampa also, three number one picks out there, James Winston, of course, Miles Garrett, Baker-Mayfield all down there. And Carl Nassau, a guy that we remember from Hard Knocks ended up making the big play, the big sack. Get some sacks.

He was after Hugh in that game. He was after Greg Williams in that game. Look, Hugh's the master of PR. accuse the guy that, you know, and I've said this story before, I was doing, you know, you work as a bartender, and the one bartender tells the owner, look, that's like Sean, so that the owner pays attention to him. This is what all Hugh does.

Hugh comes out of press conference and says, well, I'm going to have to take a look at the offense. Okay, Hugh, calm out. This right, nobody's mentioned how he screwed up the end of the half and didn't take the three points, right? Like, just take the three points at the end of the half, Hugh, you can win the game. But nobody's even written about that.

Nobody questions his end of the game management, which is a disaster. Nobody questions that, you know, when you have the ball and field goal, there's certain parts of the field. We talked about this all the time on the M Street. You can't take a sack. You can take a sack when you're at your opponent's 12-yard live and you're holding the ball like Guy Manning did last night

waiting for somebody to get open because they rush three guys. You could take that sack. That's no problem with me. You take that sack all day long. Hold the ball. I know there are guys open because Eli refused to throw up, but that's the master at creating another situation. so you'll ever look at the main issue.

Okay, that's what he's really doing here. Diversons. Okay, here's what I really want to know. And this is what fucking ESPN should do a documentary on. They should take their cameras and follow you. I want to know what the fuck he does from Monday morning until a kickoff. Because if he's not calling offense, if he's not calling defense, what is he doing in the office?

Like if he has a problem with Todd Haley in the office, just walk in the room and say, Todd, look, this week, I want to double move Brett Grimes. This week, I want to go after Vernon Hard Day. You know, this week, we better make sure we take care of NASA. He knows how we handle it. Okay, I want to double NASA. I want to go after that.

I don't want to run this place. I don't want to run this team. I want to run this. That's what a head coach does. And then on Wednesday after practice, okay? God, I don't like that shit. I don't like that play. Run that.

I like this stuff, run that. I don't want to call that, take that out. Put this in. That's what a head coach does. That's called being a. head coach. That's what you do. Then you tell the same thing on defense. Take Greg. I don't want to zero pressure here.

Like, you don't just give them carp blotch, and then after the game, throw them under the bus. You're an offensive coordinator. You're supposed to know this shit. You watch Wednesday's practice. You watch Thursday's practice. You watch Friday's practice. I promise you. The Browns that run one play in that game that they didn't practice. But nobody's calling

Huey out. Huey, didn't you see that at practice on the tape? Of course not. That's Huey. He's the best at it. He's the greatest. He's so good that he's the only coach in fucking football who's got a plus three turnover takeaway and he's one one and one. I mean, think about it.

He's a magician. He's generated. I like to think he's just staring at himself in a mirror in his office just saying I'm the head coach. I'm the head coach. Bill he asked me the other day. That's a great question. She said, how does he have him so fooled when after one year he fired you? Like one year I got fired.

You know, Mingo was a bad pick. Okay, we did some stupid things, had some good players. Okay. It's like on display every day is incompetent. And then it keeps him. Like, I don't understand. I'm confused. I think it's more of I think Haslam is

in the Jerry vein of NFL ownership at this point. You know, I think he's in charge, right? They're making those decisions and if you have someone that's going to agree with your decisions, you can call the shots, then that's how the world works sometimes with some of these things. I mean, good on you. Don't should have Todd Halley Witness

Office of somebody more. and said, hey, you can throw me under the bus one more time. It's over with Frost. If you got any problem with what we're doing here, man, speak up. Like, just tell me what you want. You're the head coach. Just tell me. Don't be sitting there with the press talk of talking shit.

Like, don't call me under the bus. I'll tell you. You're going to the bus when I get out of here. What do you think that conversation is happening? Absolutely. And I think if you're Todd Haley, right, you've got to go to Hugh and say, well, why don't you call the plays this week, right? Put the ball back in his court.

And Hugh already came out and said he's not going to do that. Right. Of course. Okay. He's sitting there. He's been on every team in the league, right? Nice man, wonderful man. You know, everywhere he's been.

You know, he's a guy. He's a guy. He's a guy who he's in there to spy for Huey to tell Huey what's going on in the meeting. Right? Yeah. So, like, tell somebody what you want Monday through Saturday. Like, I want to know what you does Monday through Saturday. I really want to know.

Like, what is he doing? We should have kept the Hard Knocks cameras there. Just have a Hugh Cam. I would love to give Huey an exam five questions. Okay, if you could answer these five questions, right now, you'd be the head coach of the Browns next week, okay? You're getting ready to play Pittsburgh this week. Who's the L4 on the punt team? He won't know.

Who's the L4? I mean, who's the L4 on the kickoff team? He won't know. He won't know. Tell me the strengths of weaknesses of the fourth corner on Pittsburgh. He won't know. But if I gave that test to Belletecke, he would have every answer. Now there's the difference.

And Sean Payton would probably have an answer in McVeigh, and you can go down the list. Of course you would. Yes. Of course you would Sean Payton sitting there trying to coach. He's the head coach. That's what head coaches do, Tate Brasian. They just don't sit back and say,

you know, I don't like the way we're running this. You ran it Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. You ran it every day. And somehow... Nobody runs shit. Nobody runs shit on Sunday that they haven't rehearsed at some point during the season.

Like, they just don't... Like, we're not in the backyard and you're drawing place in the dirt. Yeah, to put it in Bruce Springsteen terms, you're not going to just debut a new song if you haven't practiced it with the band, right? You're just,

Play the hits. No, like, there's no way. I mean, this is a little CD. They play it up a million times before they do it. All right, Lombardi, before we move on, let's take a quick break to talk about Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar games, creators of the critically acclaimed and record-breaking Grand Theft Auto series are back with their latest blockbuster,

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despite his amazing eight-yard touchdown run where he covered 71 yards, looking like Mike Vic, Colin Kaepernick, all over the place, showing that athleticism that we have talked about plenty of times on this program. The Patriots were able to prevail 3831 despite a long hellmerie toss at the end of the game. Kevin White, just a yard short in this one. The Patriots, two special team touchdowns. Cordero Patterson was with a kickoff return. That was nice to see in Calvin Noi with a return of a block punt, also for the Patriots.

Just looking at this game, Lombardi. We'll start with the Mitchell-Jubisky side of things. A lot of people upset. He missed a lot of throws in this one. It was back and forth. They had a chance to come down and win this game, though, in the end. Can you defend Mitchell at all? Can we say good things about his athleticism?

No, I'm not. I'm not. You represent Mitchell. Your law firm represents Mitchell's mind don't. I'm here to come back. My agency, yes. Yeah, your agency represents them. Like everything I saw in that game was exactly

Belichette's the patient's did a horrible job of hockey control. Everything he did was the reason why I don't like him from this. He doesn't have control of football. He can't put it where he needs to put it. And missed a lot of throws. He's really athletic. And he can run with the ball. But God, is he bad trying to make pinpoint throws?

And is he really bad making decisions? And it's not going to change. And I think just watch that game. And I know, because I know a lot about the Patriots, The Patriots were never worried about him. They took away the running game. They put Gilmore on Robinson, and they said, you know what? Okay, let me see what you can do.

Never worried about throws two interceptions. A lot of the yards, look at the best, and say, well, he won that bad. Well, he got a huge, tough yards at the end of the first half. And then he's down 38 to 24, and all of a sudden he starts getting a bunch of yards. I mean, the Patriots were never worried about losing that game. They were down 17 to 7. They were down 24 to 15. They were never worried about losing that game.

They were never worried about losing that game. They're always going to be able to move the ball in that game. And to me, if I'm a better fan, I don't want to hear it. But Chibisky, you can talk about he needs more reps. He is what he is because that's why he was at North Carolina when he started 13 games. The game's too big for him. And when it gets bigger, it becomes harder. Look, I mean, it's going to have to beat a good team.

And they're not even a good defense. I mean, the Patriots aren't a great defense, but they knew what to take away from him. The only thing they didn't do is control the rush. And it got in a situation in this game, too, where it was completely a shootout. And Trubisky, like you mentioned, had some of those open throws that didn't quite go through. But can you not be excited as a Bears fan just that you have?

I mean, this is a Blake Bortles athlete. This is a Mitchell Trubisky is a real athlete. I mean, a guy that when you watch him running, you think maybe you can play wide receiver or something. You know what I mean? So there is some, it kind of like is like Kaepernick in a certain way. I mean, you're obviously handicapped by the fact that he can't deliver the ball down the field like a like a breeze or one of these guys throwing the deep ball.

but you also have this extra layer of defenses have to have to have a contain on him. They have to keep a spy on him in some capacity because he does have the legs, but is that two one-dimensional, especially with this bear's defense kind of reeling? I think it is, and I think the more he plays taste phrases

or the more it's going to become a pound, like what happened with Capric. And then those doors, they throw him out of bounds. I mean, he's throwing the fucking ball out of bounds sometimes. He's got guys open and throws it out of that. He couldn't,

the receiver can't even make a play on the ball. You know? And I think that's going to benefit to yourself. And then Matt Nagy, look, like that young coach. This quotes after the game, oh my God, I almost,

he doesn't know what the defense is running. He doesn't know the adjustment. He sometimes is confused when he's watching the, he's admitting all this, right? Like, he's admitting all this. Like, we're paying you $5 million here to be the head coach, and you don't even know what the calls are. You think he's going to pass my five-question test?

I don't think so. Let's start sending that test out. We're going to get that drawn up for every week, and we'll see how many people send it back. Yeah, I should probably post the five questions. Coach for every head coach in the best. They don't go pass it? Of course, then I go.

You didn't Matt Nagy knows the L4 is on the kickoff fraternity? Oh, shit. Oh, shit. He's too busy. He's got to script out too many plays. We'll give him a break. We'll give him Nagy a break. Of course.

Of course. I'm still buying in. Mitchell hasn't had enough starts. I think he's going to find his footing. I like the athleticism, Marty. I do. That's because you can pay $2.50. You know, you have a high-price Florida to Fedich, you want to keep the case going.

Yep. No comment on that. I'll plead the fifth. Let's talk about another game that was big this week and a lot of eyeballs. In a game that completely flipped after the first three quarters, and of course I'm talking about the defending champs and the Carolina Panthers. Panthers were down 17 to zero heading in to the fourth quarter. But the next three possessions that they had, they come down, they score touchdowns. Cam Newton had a nice, beautiful jump pass to Torrey Smith on fourth down when it looked like all things were not going to go well for back-to-back weeks for Cam Newton. He said he believed in himself.

Put the cape back on, went in the booth, became superman. man and led the Panthers down. And that defense, the Panthers defense that they, obviously, that is the starting point for everything good that they can do. Luke Keekly, 14 tackles on Sunday for them for negative plays against the Eagles. And the Panthers, yet again, we talked about it on Friday. You mentioned on Friday, the Eagles have struggled with this Panthers team. And although everything looked great for the first three quarters, they were not able to get

big enough lead against his team. And Cam Newton and those guys came back and made him pay. You know, I was a great game. I watched it. I was at the casino this weekend. I was at the ocean show doing it, and sat down there. A lot of Eagle fans in the book, you know,

and all the money was on the Bears. All the money was on the Bears. So when the Patriots won and covered, it was a little bit of everybody was deflated. But this game was even more so because, you know, it was so dominant by the Eagles. I mean, the Panthers couldn't do anything, really. I mean, they had a lot of drop.

Eagles defense was putting pressure on Cam, pretty much the whole game. And then the third quarter, you know, they score to make it 17 to nothing, and then all of a sudden, Eagles only convert one third down in the fourth quarter. The ball had made it when it was 17 to 14, they go freeing out. They try to run the ball, don't get anything, try a screen, don't get anything. And then Bradbury makes a great play on a seven cut. And all of a sudden, the Panthers come right down the field, and, you know, it takes some four downs to get the one first down, but then it was over with. And then the Eagles have a chance to come right back in the game, and you think, oh, my gosh, but the Wins just made some decisions on that last drive in the red zone. and this is really the essence of the Eagles season right now

is he made decisions in the red zone that hurt him. He's got the flat open over for a first down if he just takes it, doesn't take it. You know, he's got the in-cut on the fourth down play. If he throws it early, he's going to be a first down at the one or two, and they're going to try to win the game, and he doesn't take it. The Eagles last year were 51% on third downs in the red zone. It's remarkable. They were third in the NFL, really good.

This year, they're 31st in the NFL. They're 21% on third down. They've only converted four third downs in the red area out of 19 attempts. That's the essence of their season, take pleasure, and that's where they're not been able to do it. And I think that that's the big issue. And then they can't really get control of the run game. They miss Bulls, they miss Blunt badly. Blunt ran hard against Miami.

Like I said on the podcast, he's bigger than the linebacker from Miami. He ran harder than them, and so they missed them. And I think to me, what Peterson did after the game was Dogg, right? You know, when you're the champ, you're the champ, right? do a champ until February. So somebody's a pro-ins to say, he don't want to be the champ no more. He wants to do the underdog.

He loved coaching that underdog role until he flipped it after the press cop. You can't wear the underdog. Well, I guess they're both dogs. You can't. Can you Kay Frager? Maybe you can. I mean, they're both dog.

Top dog, underdog. I don't know. Maybe it works. Well, it's Halloween this week. I mean, it's Halloween. I'm going to go out with Dominic for Halloween. I'm going to dress up. Maybe I'll be an underdog.

I don't know. You'd be Scooby-Doo or something. I'm going to go out there. There you go. You can be Scooby-Doo. Maybe that's what I should do. I think Dominic's going to be Super Mario.

I think that's what he's going to be. So I don't know, whatever's going to do, but I'll tell you one thing. We're going to the houses that have big candy. We ain't going to the houses that have hand up,

and if there's houses that have big candy, we're showing up three times. Okay. We're coming back three times for the big candy. That's a rule. That's a rule. That's for three of the little small stickers bars if that's all they have because that equals a one.

No, no, I'm going to go out for the big baby root bars. If they're giving out baby Ruth, we're going to hit that anyway. So back to the game. So I think what Pearson's saying is, like, you know, I can't coach this way. And it's a problem. And I think to me, he wants to use an underdog motivation, and I don't know if that's going to go over.

And I think one thing that we pointed out last year a lot with this Eagles team was they always played left-handed. They would always do things that kind of kept you on your heels. And I think, Wince, you mentioned some of those opens. Sometimes they're just not even, it seems like they're still, leaning into trying to be different and trying to be trying to make the tough play instead of the right player, the easy play. And I don't know how much that is trickled down from the top or just trying to fall in line with what they did last year. But things haven't quite bounced their way

so far. And maybe if they're able to clean that up and they watch the tape and Peterson's like, hey, Carson, you just got to make this throw in the flat here. This is easy. You just got to make a quick decision here. This is easy. You see it. We see it. I know what you're trying to do. I know what we have done before, but just take the easy play for now and we'll work our way back. It does feel like that Eagle team, especially going into this next week, they have a chance to kind of write the ship

a little bit. Yeah, I think this. I think Wentz is in a hard because, I think sometimes, you know, the ball tends to sail on like a throw the goal line that Eric Green I thought was the new reception that they ruled it, then they overturned it. The ball tends to fail on them. Sometimes I think he doesn't get really old, drive the ball,

and it's for very many incompletions. So, look, the guy still, it's like the player, he gets a shit kick out of them out. The Eagles don't do something with their protection. I said it last year. He's going to get hurt. You know, their protections, people attack them and they do it, which leads us to the next day, Trey Fraser, which is the London game, Jacksonville

and the Eagles. This will be a dandy. You know who's undefeated in London, Tate Fraser? Bortles, he's the king of London. We love Blake Bortles in London. Everyone in England loves Blake Bortals, but he's going over there to take on the Eagles. This is basically a home game for the Jaguars.

They're London's team. And I agree. I think there's a chance. Because you just got announced, right, Bortles will start. Kessler will not start this game. Bortles will start. So we have a shot. But he's on a short leash. Here's the real issue,

T. Fraser. It's, you know, and I wrote about this band, but I'm surprised, though, isn't the fact that Bortles got that. I'm not surprised. I'm shocked that two really good football people, Doug Marone and Tom Coughlin have bought into the Blake Bortle's thing. I'm really surprised by that.

I'm almost like it's astounding. Like, to me, football, people that study the game and work on it. So, Blake's, everybody in the league knows it. It's pretty common knowledge. You can have fans that that don't think Plakes go turn the corner, just like people think Trebisky will and all that. That's great. That's what fans do. But people that know the league,

know Blake's going to have a hard time turn on the corner. That's just, after all these years, he's not. And I'm shocked that Coughlin bought it. I'm shocked that Morones bought it. I'm shocked that somebody wasn't down there screaming. You know, we need a quarterback. I get David Calwell byzis. He's vested in this thing. Completely vested. He can't see it

for anything. He thinks Blake's greatest player because he picked them first one of that. They refuse this to admit it. The same thing that's going to happen to the seven-sickers from Arkell Fultz. They're going to completely go down this road that Fultz is turning the corner. He's going to be the albatross across their neck.

That's what Blake is. That's what it is. I mean, that's just the way it is. It's one thing when Blake's on a rookie contract $4 million and 26 and a half of a guarantee. Because some of those guys in the locker room were saying, that was my money, man. That's my money you just gave that asshole. I want my money.

But you've got to pay me. You got to pay me, and we saw it. Jaylen Randby, he didn't really mince his words this time. He said, you can see it, we all see it, there's a lot going on down here, there's a lot happening. I'm not going to specifically talk about it, but you can see it. There's a lot going on. This is not our

team. There's a lot of problems with his team. The reason Coughlin said they were willing to trade, there was a rumor that Eli could be a guy they decide before week eight hits. He said the offensive line is not shured up. We need someone that can be mobile and get away from pressure. Obviously, Blake is more mobile than Eli by

by a long shot at this point. There's no doubt. Look, as much as I attack Blake, whoever they get, their line's stuck. Their line's not very good. But they can do some things. I mean, just think about this, Dave Fraser. It's amazing how narratives never really get changed, okay?

And we kill the Giants for that draft of Donald or that draft in the quarterback. But how about, could you imagine Patrick Mahomes on the Jaguars? You know, and I say that, and if I were at the Jaguars, I would have been Shaw Watson. So I would think, you know,

I love the Shaw Watson more than I love Mahomes. I thought Deshawn Watson was everything you want and star quarterback. Obviously, the Holmes so far has looked better than him, but they're both really good. So I'll have missed either one. The way you missed is by not picking one.

And Fournette's a really good player, but like we're seeing with Barkley, for that's not going to change the game. Now, they need Fournette because he takes the pressure off of Bordle, right? They need them. I don't know if Carlos Hyde will this because they trade it for him. But the reality of it is, again,

once again, they're not being honest with themselves. And they seem to think that if they do bring in, they'd make the trade for Carlos High with the Browns. Obviously, Fortnett, they're hoping to get back from injury. And I heard Coughlin say that basically the plan is to do what we've done before to win. We need to have a running game that can solidify itself, help us with time of possession,

and let our defense help win games. And right now we don't have that because we don't have Fortinette. And now we're bringing in Hyde. And hopefully, you know, they cut them all Charles. They're hoping they can really build out that run game and try to find that formula again. But they are behind eight ball at this point. I mean, Houston now is first place. They're four and three after starting O in three.

now their first place in the AFC South. They've lost two home games to... They've lost two home games to the best rivals. They've lost to Tennessee and they've lost to Houston at home. And we know they're not a good road team. We're 13 and 10 over the last 23 games.

See, what happens is we sometimes just to anoint them in the media and to our perceptions. And I did the same thing. I thought Jackson was way better. But you don't, you're not great when you go out to San Francisco and lose that outfit out there.

I know Jimmy Gropolo was a quarterback. But San Francisco's really got them. And we know Blake's going to turn the ball over way too much. you know Blake can't wait he's had 29 humbles in his career he's lost 14 of them so you know he loves to fumble there's no way he's very gracious

to give you the ball here please have it thank you very much you know it's like come on at some point you can't get that position right you're not going to and that guy's in the locker room

Jaylon Ramsey those guys down there they know it they know it and I'll give a little spin zone here for the Blake Bordel's Fax fans this was his first interception free game since week three so congratulations

way to go so I always have those little nuggets so it always makes it so much better. You know, I'm sure driving home after that loss. Well, at least Blake didn't throw an interception. Oh, that makes it feel good. Oh, it's so good. We're going to take a quick break here,

and then we're going to come back and talk a little bit about some of the bigger narratives in football, and then we're going to do our awards for week seven, and quick break. We'll be right back after this. Guys, you've heard me talking about this for weeks, yet some of you are still watching football from the sidelines. Whether you're an expert, a rookie, you should be betting at my bookie.

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All right, and we are back. We do this every single week. We talk about some of the bigger narratives that are coming out in the world. Two of the biggest teams, and we've talked about it so far on this program, plenty of times. Maybe not even enough at this point, but the Kansas Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams, we'll get to the Rams later. First, I want to talk about Sunday night football and what we saw from that Chiefs team.

So Pat Mahomes comes out. The defense, really, they probably had their best performance of the season. They hold a season low, 239 yards, 10 points to the Bengals. Mahomes throws for 358 yards, four touchdowns, and they route the Bengals, 45 to 10. The Bengals, again, 0 and 6th Sunday night football. That is not a place they like to play since Andy Dalton and AJ Green have teamed up in 2011. So those are the basis

for what we saw. But talking about that Chiefs team and what we've seen from Mahomes and obviously there's a lot of people talking about MVP chatter for him at this point. But the Chiefs look like a legitimate threat across the board. And the Bengals are as you've described them, a really good team, not a great team. So to do that to a really

good team on Sunday night football and prime time was pretty good PR if you're a Kansas City Chiefs fan. Yeah, I think what people are really in the kicking game. And so as good as they are on offense, they're really going to kick the game. And then they really are good at scoring points. I think they've scored now 42 points on their first drive out of 49 possible points. I mean, that's really remarkable. So their first drive, they don't get field goals

to get touchdowns. And so, you know, they play from in front. They're really, they're good on third down defense, even though they stink on defense. Okay, so let's just break down the situations. They're really good on third down defense so they can get off the field. They get the ball back to their offense. They can run the ball. They can run the ball at you. They can throw it down the field. they can throw a control passing game. They can beat you a lot of different weapons. And then their kicking games really, really good. And you've got to beat them in the kicking game.

You've got to be able to cover kicks against them. You've got to be able to, they can control field position with you. So they're good in two of the three areas. And then the phone has some game situation elements that are good. I think they're a hard team to play. And then add into it, which is why chance to be competitive, add the crowd noise into the Cincinnati's offense, which they can't hear, they can't get their running game going.

And then Andy plays the tempo of the game, so what scores points? I mean, look, you know, of course, we never talked about it on Sunday night football. The 24, you know, the game's over. And so now you're trying to catch up on the road with crowd noise and you've got to throw it 50 times. You've got no chance. I think reads the coach the year, and I think Mahomes is clearly right now the favor to beat MVP without a doubt. And I thought that you would like this stat.

So the Chiefs actually put this out. Sunday was the first game since 2000 that the Chiefs did not punt in a game. So that just says something about the power and like how dynamic this offense is under Andy Reed this year with Mahomes. And it's almost like we've taken the safety off. You know, what Alex Smith taught Mahomes how to be a pro last year.

That was nice. Everyone was very excited about that. But now that Mahomes is coming, he's revving up the engine and they look, I mean, even Hunt is a guy that seems almost forgotten at times with this team. You know, we talk about Hill and all these other guys. And Hunt has this amazing game.

And you forget, you know, they have this great running back who can also do a lot of things in the passing game as well. Right. And weather's not going to factor them. And weather's not going to bug them. They're good in a kicking game.

So weather's going to not really bug them. They're not like, they don't need perfect carpet to play fast. Hunt can power you. And they can play with the physicality. And they do it by formations. They do it by scheme. So they're so good. You know, I mean, look, the Rams are the same way.

When you take all the window dressing off the ramps, you know, they come down to running the football play action pass and get it down the field. And you're going to have to hold them. You're going to have to play really well. You get 12 series in the game, you've got to play really good for eight of those series. Because they're going to get to get the game's going to be in the 20. You're not going to hold them very often to 1724. The game's going to be in the 20.

So you got to figure out how you get that game into the, how you get 20 points, how you limit your possessions against them and how they limit that what they do. So, you know, to me, again, I keep saying this on GM Street, offensive football is where teams are today. Saints are so good. That's why the Rams are so good. That's why the T's is so good. And that's why the Patriots are so good. And let's talk about the Rams. So the Rams moved to 7 and 0. A very quiet bid for a perfect season is slowly happening

behind the scenes with this Rams team. Somehow, I don't feel like it's become to the forefront yet, but maybe it will. They went 39 to 10 this week. They beat the 49ers, of course. A game that we were, you know, you thought on Friday and we kind of talked through it. I'm an idiot. I wish I would have called me at the four. No, I'm an idiot. I mean, I'm an idiot. I mean, I hate the 49ers team. We thought they could slip up. myself first. I mean, Dad, you hate the 49th team. Why would you, why would you do that? And I'm like, because I'm, you know, like, I thought, I thought they would keep it close. You know, I hate the 49th defense.

I hate the defense. Like, their defense is everything that I don't stand for. It's role, it's, it's battleship football. It's guess, yes, yes, yes. Oh, we hit, yes, yes, oh, we hit, guess, oh, we did up 28 points. I keep having a faith that they can run the ball. And then I look at C.J. Beth, Beth, you know, there's a great story about Coach Knight, Bob Knight. He was getting ready. He'll appreciate this. He was getting ready to play LSU when they had Shaq, when they had Shaq, and LSU they got all this talent, and how they're going to do it? And then apparently, Coach Knight said, everything's going to be okay. Well, you know, that's kind of the way I feel about the 49ers. I think Kyle's going to make them better. And then I look at C.J. Bethard, and I know I shouldn't

look better than that. You know what I mean? I mean, it's ridiculous. C.J. Beather's a great tough kid. He's just not an NFL starting quarterback. Can C.J. Bethard be the bad equalizer instead of the great equalizer? Yeah, that's what he is. I mean, turns the ball over, thinks she's better than he is. He ought to prove something, doesn't play with him himself. Look, I think the 49 is a little least, they're going to guess, I can't find him. He must be on the FBI's database. The America's most wanted, because I can't buy him and make a play on the tape.

He may be on the land. Yeah, he's on the land. I mean, the whole 49th belongs on the lamb. Let's be real honest. I mean, they're playing the Cardinals this week. What are what that viewership is going to be like? I mean, how would you like to do the TV announcement for that game? Oh, my God.

That is going to be quite a defensive showdown, right? With those two teams playing each other? Yeah, and if I pick the Niners because I think the Niners will beat the car. Don't just tell me I'm an idiot and then we'll move on to the next game. Ignore anything I say about the 40-9. We'll keep an eye on that for sure. I want to mention quickly just about Todd Gurley. He is on the verge of possibly history just based on the pace of how he's scoring touchdowns right now.

He has NFL high 14. That would get him to 32, which would break Ladani and Tomlinson. Not LT. Ladany and Tomlinson's single-seger. season record that he set in 2006 with 31. Aaron Donald seems to be a guy that has bounced back after we talked about in the first couple weeks. He seemed to...

He killed Thomas. He killed the first round round of the Lions. You know, the 49th extend it's going to hit me. So, speaking of the Lions, take phrase, I want to take a moment here. You know, my man Matt Millen, I love Matt Millen, spent a lot of time with Matt Millen at NFL films. He would come

down, we would watch tape. Matt's a wonderful man. I think Matt got in a situation of Detroit that he admits it. wasn't ready for it. He did, and he admits he didn't do a very good job, and I think he needed some people around him to help him. That being said, Matt Miller is a human being, one of the greatest human beings that have been around in my life. Love the guy. He's, he's in Mayo Clinic. He's doing to get a heart transplant. He's had this infection that's been going around and for the last couple of years. I just wish him well. Hopefully that I'll come through for him.

He's into my prayers, and he's in my thoughts. And that's a nice note there. And one thing to point out about the Lions, I mean, if you are a Detroit fan right now, you have to, have a little bit of excitement just for the fact that the run game seems to be in the right place with Kerryon Johnson goes for 158 and that win against Miami. A team that has struggled finding a running back for goodness knows how long. I mean, back to, you know, you can remember drafting job at best and, you know, Abdullah, all these different guys that they've tried to bring in to be that run game for him. It looks like Carriott Johnson could hopefully help them out.

And we'll see what happens there. So that's something to keep an eye on with the Lions. One more thing I want to bring up before we move on to awards for the week is just Adam Thielen and what he's doing as far as history. Sort of same thing with Gurley. I mean, what these guys are up to. Talk about offense and the explosion and football. He's

had over 100 receiving yards and seven consecutive games to start the season. That was an NFL record tied with Charlie Hinnigan. Anytime you're bringing up Charlie Hinnigan and something you're doing in football, you're doing all right. And if he does it again this week, he will tie Megatron, Calvin Johnson's mark for

100 yards receiving games at any point in a career with 8 straight. So just a minute Minnesota, that team they go in and take on the Jets and Kirk Cousins has a great game feeling again dominates. And Minnesota looks like a team that they're sort of figuring out as we move along this season. Yeah, the Jets weren't able to play in the game because, look, the Vikings going under the game only allowed three first hours to be converted in the last two weeks. You know, Blent's only converted to and Arizona converted one. This week, the Jets just converted to. And for a young quarterback against Mike Zimmer, it's really not a good matchup.

Like, you just, you have to play Canadian football, and you're not good enough to do it. And so the Vikings defense is coming around. I think they're getting faster. Daniel Hunter's playing really well. I think they're getting more confidence. And I think the losing to Buffalo at home might have been the best thing for them. And this week will be a huge test where they are defensively because, you know, the true test maker, the Saints offense is coming to town to see where they are.

They've played the Rams already. They gave up a lot of points to the Rams. I think they gave up 38 to the Rams. So we're going to see where they are. I've got the home field advantage would certainly help them. Frazier, I love the story. I love the kid. I love the fact that he proved all of us scouting wrong.

And I think that when you evaluate receivers, I think Thielen is a great lesson to learn that balance is really important. Obviously, receiver has to catch the ball. But to catch the ball is always going to be a balance. And his quickness at the top of his round is really good. He may not run a 4-440, and who cares if he does? His body, because corners can't read. If his arms, when you watch a receiver and the arms are always flapping running around,

the corners know he's getting ready to cut because he's trying to fall himself to a speed guy. When he tries to run a route, that's not a vertical route, he gives it away because he can't really control his body, doesn't have great balance. And I think that's the issue here. Dealin's so good at it. Dealin is what every scout in the league should do is watch tape and cut up from Deelan. And that'll teach you the essence of what truly is a great receiver in the NFL. It's body control. Body control and route running.

Those are the two things that Thieland does really well. It's like rebounding. Barkley led the league in rebounding at 6-4 and a half in the NBA because he's always in position to get the rebound. His balance was so good. Yeah. Anticipation balance. Some guys that are 6-11, they're just on one leg.

Because you don't do the fundamentals when you can do it easily. You know what I mean? But when you know that's going to be the difference, sometimes you work harder and that's the difference in how you play. Let's get to a award for the week for week seven. This is, of course, something that we love to do here. the first award, time to go on the lamb.

You tease it a little earlier for a couple of Solomon Thomas and the whole 49ers team should probably go in the lamb. I think I think Kyle Shanahan's in a tough spot. I know they got a bunch of guys start. I think he's got to reevaluate where he was an organization. After two years, this is not where he needs to be. He's got to improve his talent base. I think he's got to look.

He's one of his friends, he's a coordinator. He needs an elder statesman in that room with experience to help him. John Lynch doesn't know his job. He's never done a damn job before. you know, he doesn't have that. I mean, they need some people with experience in their inner business. They need it on defense more.

I think that's the advantage Sean McVeigh has. By having weighed there, huge advantage. But I think they need to go on the lamber. Is there a chance of guy like a Bill Pollyan type guy would go to take a job like that as a consultant and sort of like a Jerry West does?

He's got his dad's got his dad's and his dad's just come in and help him. Yeah. His dad should just go help run the defense or something because they're just not good enough and their talent evaluation is off. I would love to see the Shanahan's reunite on the West Coast.

We can see us, we'll see if that's possible. No doubt. Next up, we have the Fred Palermo Award for the best prep for the week, and you have the Detroit Lions with this one. I love the Lions. Johnson was good. I love the Lions going into 81 degrees.

I never trusted the heist to make place two weeks in a row. I mean, that was a give me putt there. And the Lions, just Stafford can move the ball. The Lions, everybody hangs on to the Dolphins. DFOs. There's TVOA, that. Like, watch the tape.

The offense aren't any good. Watch the freaking tape. Like, I don't know what their numbers are. I mean, they were number two in the league in DBOA and week two of the season. Okay, now look, I know things even out. But nobody that plays Miami thinks Miami's any good, you know? And Miami's not good enough on defense. They're not good enough in their scheme.

And offensively, it's all just a bunch of long handoffs. They're trying to manage the quarterback. And so, you know, the thing I really was happy about Miami this week is they finally, you know, they ripped me again for saying that DeVante, Parker was available. Oh, Lombardi's four city.

He's not available. And, of course, now everybody knows it's available. It's open. But I get, apology, Senator. I got no apology,

this committee owes me, apology, Senator. That's what I need. No, what's that from? That's from the Godfather

when they, when they, when it was like fantastic unless. That checks out. I wish you were here in person so I could see the real,

you know, the acting that went behind that. I can do that scene. Over the phone, it's not enough. You know, maybe,

think of that scene last night when they kept showing Peyton Manning in the box, it was almost like he was Frank Pantanjali's brother when he comes to the courtroom. Because now everybody won't say a bad word about Iraq. Everyone's scared, yeah. Everyone tightens up, yeah. No one's talking to that point. Yeah, everybody tights up.

Hey, then, I keep going to say a bad word about Eli because Peyton's there. You know, Vito Panenthali's in the audience. Like, nobody wants to, you know, okay. That's funny how that works. That's, yeah, maybe that's smart. Maybe Eli asked him to do that, you know, give him some help. Those nationwide commercials aren't left. I think so.

Not enough camera time for Peyton always. The next up that we have, we have the KGB Award. Who'd you have for this one, Lombardy? Carolina. I mean, Carolina stuck up in this game, and they did. I think that, you know, they played 60 minutes, and they played well, I love this one guy on Twitter with ripping us, take place, so he's like,

well, I listen to Lombardi and do, did you see this tweet? Like, I listened to you guys. Nice call on Carolina's defense. Excuse me? Like, really? Like, you know, I love it. But we're not always going to be right, but I mean, like, wait until after, at least the game's over to rip my ass.

Well, so I saw it after the game was over, so I thought the guy was actually giving a legitimate compliment, but I figured out it was sarcasm once I saw the timestamp. All you got to do is give a nice little like, and, you know, it'll all work itself out in the end. We don't know how things will work out, but I was very happy to see Cameron Newton and the Panthers make it happen. I know you were.

Yeah, a lot of people were coming after Cameron, as always. Whenever they lose in a close game, people start throwing shots of Cameron, and I'm glad he delivered. They dressed really well. I love the outfit after the game. I love the outfit after the game. Really classy.

Really look good. Always dripping sauce, that man, Cam Newton. Final one for the week. If you don't know, now you know. Lombardi, what do we know? The Saints are for real. You go into Baltimore. You beat Baltimore in there.

You're for real. They're going to be in this for the end. Tough game up and been a tough thing. Carolina's going to be a tough out for them, but I think they're really good. They beat Carolina and Carolina. So I think they got, I think you can definitely see the coaching matters in this league. And I think that's why they're such a variety.

in everything. I think Sean Peyton, Drew Breeze, the entire Saints organization, they have put the league on alert that they have put all their chips on the table. They're all in. They're win now. They believe that they have a chance to win a Super Bowl. I mean, we heard the comments last year after they lost on the Hell Mary to

Diggs. They all said that they thought that they would have beaten the Eagles if they did get away in that game, and we'll see what happens. I think it's a good sign if you believe in Sean Payton and Drew Breeze because they have been on another level so far this season. Quickly before we get out of here, we got week eight, the trade block is coming up

a lot of rumors still swirling that maybe even the Raiders will make some more room with maybe Carl Joseph being a guy that they could trade out of there. You talked about Parker as a name that's been floated around. Demarius Thomas is another name with the Broncos that has been floated around. Patrick Peterson, who I mentioned earlier, even though

Wilkes said that he would not trade. I don't think if somebody offers the Broncos something good for Demarius Thomas, I think they could. I mean, I think New England would have an interest because he would know New England's system. Anybody from those Patriots Josh McDaniels days, you know, at Denver would. You know, they've always liked Emmanuel Sanders. I'm sure if Denver loses this week in Kansas City, I think Monday will be a busy day in Denver.

I think they'll start selling off assets if they can. You know, I think Denver's not a very talented team either. So, but I could see that. I could see that happen. I mean, look, some teams just need to stretch. But the Saints felt they needed a corner. You know, New England probably needs another receiver, perhaps a running back. I think the Eagles are going to be all over trying to get a running back.

I know that, you know, they're talking about McCoy. McCoy's, I think Buffalo wants a two and a three from McCoy, that's not going to happen. But maybe Buffalo lowers their demands, and I think the Eagles will be in there for a running back somewhere if they could find one. So it'll be able to talk more about it on Friday, and then on Tuesday next week we'll cover it.

Absolutely. We'll keep an eye on all things. NFL trade talk, and there's a lot of rumors swirling about a lot of guys, so we'll see what happens there, and a lot of teams that are trying to contend, and when you see teams like the Saints that are unafraid to make moves, that there's usually a ripple effect there,

and other teams will react to that, and we'll see what happens, especially on the AFC side of things. This has been week seven. This has been another edition of GM Street part of the Ringer Podcast Network. We will be back on Friday to give Lombardi's picks for the week on Friday sit down,

and we're excited to see what happens moving forward in week eight. Lombardi, anything else before we get out of here? Are you going to be too upset about the Sixers right now? I'm ready to go, Treyfraiser. I appreciate it. Thanks to everything. Happy, happy Halloween to everyone. Thanks, Tadrears.

Absolutely. Happy Halloween to everyone, and we'll see you on Friday. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto 5 comes Red Dead Redemption 2, an epic story of honor and loyalty set in the dying days of America's outlaw era and told across the deepest and most expansive rock star world to date. Releasing for PlayStation 4 and Xbox 1 on October 26. Red Dead Red Dead Redemption 2 is available for pre-order today at rockstargames.com slash Redded Em for Mature.